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 Posted: Mon Sep 21, 2009 10:01 am
The dining cavern was not as crowded as it might have been, but E'rik still had to be quick on his feet to avoid being jostled or stepped on as he made his way about. He'd spent more time in the line for food than was his usual practice, actually accepting food from each worker rather than just reaching through the people in line to grab what he'd wanted from the available options. He did this because he was trying to catch a look at the people working on the other side of it and those assisting them. He thought he might see Firyal among them, but he didn't. With an irritated snort E'rik turned his attention to the next problem, which was actually a combination of three problems: finding a place to sit, getting there, and managing not to drop his overladen tray. It was never difficult to rid oneself of unwanted food. There were too many adolescent young men being worked hard for food to ever go unappreciated, even when the fare wasn't exactly gourmet.
Standing on his toes, E'rik did his best to see through and around the others that crowded the dining area. At last he saw an open seat with someone he at least recognized. He was capable of meeting new people, and actually quite good at it, but he wasn't really in the mood for going through the dance of introductions. He'd been drilling all day with Daramulath and seemingly unable to do anything right, and that combined with his inability to find Firyal had not put him in the best of moods. So seeing that there was space near C'mor brought him no small amount of relief. He liked C'mor, though they'd not had too much to do with each other recently. He thought the Bronzerider was a delightfully straightforward and sensible young man, far easier to deal with than many of those who Impressed bronzes.
Maneuvering skilfully through the bustle, E'rik reached C'mor's table and insinuated himself between two others, absently excusing himself when his bony elbows caught them in the shoulders, though it had been completely on purpose. E'rik was always keen on preserving his personal space, and knew a million little tricks like that to discourage others from getting too close to him. Some of them he'd picked up from others, some he'd come up with on his own, but he never felt any remorse utilizing them. The others would forget the inconvenience or discomfort momentarily, and he would be far more comfortable without people practically sitting on his lap. He'd learned to use his blue firelizard, Cobalt, to great effect in this perpetual quest for breathing room, but at the moment the blue was more interested in the food on E'rik's tray than earning his keep.
"You don't mind if I join you?" he said, addressing himself to C'mor across from him as he shook his wrist to dislodge the blue firelizard that was crawling down his arm to sneak a piece of food. All the firelizards he knew were charming little beggars.
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Posted: Mon Sep 21, 2009 10:52 am
Gilden gave that little trill she always made to greet one of her own kind, and C'mor turned his head in time to see E'rik maneuvering his way onto the bench. Good - that was his first thought - it would be good to talk to somebody who was... well, somebody he seemed to get along with. It seemed forever ago that he had first met the brownrider, he'd just arrived at the Weyr from... had it been harper hall? He thought so.
"Not at all, sit down," he said with a smile and a nod as Gilden shuffled position on his shoulder and trilled again to Cobalt. "It's not bad today," he added with a grin, "what I've got isn't anyway. The stew's a little bland maybe, but the bread's good, must be a fresh batch. So," he took a sip of klah, sighing contentedly at the familiar flavour, "how've you been? You know how it is with young dragons, I've been so busy with Naedreth I've not had much time for anything else." It got better with every month that passed, but with everything else he was starting to take upon himself it didn't really feel that way. What was he honestly thinking? Was he really going to make a difference at all? Only time and hard work would tell, he supposed.
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Posted: Mon Sep 21, 2009 11:20 am
"Thank you," E'rik said, meaning it. Of course, barring any sort of strenuous objection from C'mor he would have sat down regardless, but it was always nice to be welcomed. It made dining more pleasant when the company was amenable to having company, or something like that.
Cobalt cheeped with pleasure at Gilden. Another firelizard! How delightful! And she was so large! Like his human! Nearly everything that went through his brain would have been punctuated with an exclamation point, since that was the sort of mindset the blue had. Everything was wonderful as far as he was concerned, and it was particularly wonderful that Gilden was paying attention to him. It was his duty, of course, to pay attention to her, and he cooed a compliment about the banding on her tail. It made her look very nice. Then, struck by a burst of inspiration, he snatched a morsel of something from the stew - he had no idea what it was - and offered the dripping nibble to her. That seemed the appropriate sort of thing to do in the presence of a gold.
E'rik watched his firelizard's antics for a few seconds while C'mor's conversation sank in. He really was not at his best if it took time for words to acquire meaning and context in his mind. Drilling was turning him into a drone. He could effortlessly tell C'mor how to execute a triple layer crossover, should the Bronzerider be foolish enough to ask, but it might take him a bit to be able to converse intelligibly on subjects that didn't relate to Monsoon Wing. Hoping to speed the process along, he took a deep drink of the fruit juice he'd poured for himself at some point, though he was unaware of having done so. That helped.
"Help yourself to anything you see on my tray that's not on yours," E'rik offered, grinning in response to C'mor's grin. "I went a bit overboard, and now I think my eyes were larger than my stomach."
He waved one hand to shoo his firelizard off of his food and tore off a small chunk of bread to dip in his stew. He trusted C'mor's appraisal, but he didn't like to talk around a mouth of food that needed chewing, and dipping the bread in stew was doubly useful in that it softened the bread and gave it flavor. Usually. If the stew was bland, it was anyone's guess whether it would do the bread any favors. He took time to swallow his soggy bread before answering C'mor.
"I've been all right. They're running me ragged with constant drilling, but it's mostly good. I remember to bite my tongue before I say something that will get me assigned laps or some other form of punishment." He drank some more fruit juice.
Mentally he flailed for Daramulath. Help? Naedreth?
Dara laughed at his human, who had never really acquired the knack for telling dragons apart, though he could differentiate between humans with an ease that caused Daramulath to marvel, particularly when he could recall the name and history of someone he'd only met once. Dara did take pity on him, however, and show him a picture of Naedreth.
"He's a handsome dragon, yours. Dara tells me he'll probably grow to be the largest of his clutch, so you'll probably earn a ranked position long before I do." He smirked a little. If someone was stupid enough to offer him a position of authority, he'd assume they were drunk and refuse. "You'd do a much better job of it than I would."
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Posted: Mon Sep 21, 2009 11:46 am
C'mor laughed, first at Cobolt's display with Gilden, and then chuckled at E'rik's words. "Thank you, for the offer of food and for the compliment. I'm biased of course, but I have to agree; he's lovely. As for rank, we'll have to see. I'd like to think they choose on something other than dragon size, but I must admit a lot of the Wingleaders I see are on large bronzes... I think I might do a good job eventually," he said having never been one for false modesty, "but not right away. I'll need experience first, but maybe in a few turns I'll find myself with some kind of fancy shoulder knots, we'll see I suppose."
While her human chattered, Gilden hopped frown his shoulder and moved over to accept the morsel of food from Cobolt with a croon of thanks. She had already eaten, but she didn't feel that she had eaten enough, the extra was apprenticed. Gripping the meat in her fore paws, the miniature queen tore off a mouthful and gulped it down; nice! She crooned her thanks once more and gulped down some more.
Chuckling over the flitts again, C'mor paused to take a mouthful of his stew; no sense letting it go cold. "We're doing formation practice at the minute," he went on once he'd swallowed, "all ground work of course but it's good to get a grip on them all the same. reading about them just isn't the same as marching them out... and of course that won't be anything like flying them, but it's a step in the right direction. We're working on strap making too, which is harder than it looks I must admit. Getting all the pieces the right size and then remembering exactly how they all fit together is hard. I'm improving every time I try though which has to be good, I'll get there in the end. F'sey's a good teacher, which helps a lot of course. Couldn't imagine doing all of this with someone who wasn't."
Like Z'nal for example. Shells but he did not miss that man one bit. His methods were so... so... over the top, unnecessarily cruel, and no way to form feelings of comradeship between potential riders. Maybe some day he could take on that post. Not something he'd considered striving for before, but it was a possibility. Naedreth, though, would much rather lead a wing, he was sure; the bronze would probably feel... almost wasted on teaching. He wanted to be in the thick of it did Naedreth. He wasn't quite sure what he wanted for himself yet, he'd have to start thinking about such things before too long though. Nebulous ideas of what he might try to become were no good, he needed plans.
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Posted: Mon Sep 21, 2009 12:20 pm
"As long as you understand that Naedreth may be the most handsome bronze, but Daramulath is undeniably the most handsome brown, we'll leave the issue of most handsome dragon overall alone," E'rik proposed, grinning.
Shells, it was such a relief to talk about something that wasn't Deadly Serious. He believed, of course, that Thread would fall again, but as far as he knew no one had seen any evidence that it was going to fall in the next few months, and he was getting fed up with the sense of urgency that the Wingleader managed to charge his every statement with. Things weren't that urgent. Urgent would be the overcrowding problem at the Weyr. Urgent would be the problems with food and supplies being poor quality. Thread was a danger, but it was less immediate at the moment than more mundane matters. Thinking this, he speared a piece of meat for Cobalt to nibble while he ate some more stew-soaked bread.
"And I am so relieved to hear you say that. About needing experience and time and all. I'm disinclined to trust those who're too eager for power and authority." Perhaps he was referring just a little bit to Favan in saying that, but it was always good to be circumspect when criticising that particular female. She had entirely too many ears throughout the Weyr and a temper he wouldn't want to cross for anything less than dire.
Cobalt eagerly gobbled the proffered bit of meat and cheeped politely, hoping for more. When E'rik obliged, he ate this next morsel, too, before returning to Gilden. He kreeled sharply, a noisy request for attention, as he wanted to show her something he found very impressive: he fluttered into the air over the table and turned somersaults in the air. He wasn't as graceful as he might have been had he not just eaten, but he didn't make any mistakes as he performed the successive aerial flips. He wobbled, however, as he flew to E'rik's shoulder, and refused any more food. E'rik felt a bit bad for the blue, and wondered if it was possible for them to get dizzy. Firyal would know. But she was nowhere to be found.
"Formations..." E'rik groaned. "The best thing I can say about those is they're much easier when you can work on more than one plane and see how it all fits together vertically as well as laterally. Though it's also a lot easier to run into people that way. I spent my day learning not to do that."
On the subject of riding straps, the less said about E'rik's attempts, the better. He'd only managed to make passable ones around the time the Weyrlingmaster had been about ready to make him use hide taken from his own back. He was not a skilled leather worker, and his ability to put things together in his mind did not extend to his hands. Even Daramulath had been laughing at him by the end, which hadn't been fun.
"Hey, you might think this is kind of an odd question, but have you seen a girl named Firyal about? She's got long brown hair, and she's kind of heavyset."
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Posted: Mon Sep 21, 2009 1:10 pm
C'mor showed his teeth in a grimacing grin. "Yea, quite. People who think that just because they're charismatic, or bright, or even just because they have a big dragon they'll instantly become a good leader. Not even remotely true of course, but there's no telling some people. Oh, and from what I remember," he grinned again, "Daramulath is very good looking indeed." Most dragons were of course, but there were some that stood out as more lovely or striking than others.
Lovely and striking! That was her, and the blue one before her was very pretty too, and very impressive! She couldn't do things like that, not at all! Maybe one, but not more. He was a very good flier, very good indeed. Crooning at the other firelizard, Gilden returned to C'mor's shoulder - it was a good perch - and thought that she would like to go flying with Cobalt some time when she was not so full. She would like to see him do more clever things like his loops!
During the exchange between the flitts, C'mor had been taking the time to have a mouthful of bread. He had been going to talk more about formations, idiots who thought too much of themselves and good looking dragons but... Firyal. Yes, he knew who that was, and wouldn't forget in a hurry... but thinking about it, he hadn't spotted her in a while. Not since... "I haven't seen her since the hatching," he said eventually with a slight frown, "I usually notice her and other candidates I recognize around the place quite frequently but I've not spotted her... Is she missing?" After how the hatching had gone he wouldn't be surprised if some of the candidates had been traumatized and hidden themselves away in dark corners of the Weyr. He didn't like Firyal after what had happened at the lake, but he didn't like to think that she might be suffering.
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Posted: Mon Sep 21, 2009 3:55 pm
"I know," E'rik said flatly. "And while I think charisma does make the leadership part go more smoothly, it's not actually a trait that lends itself well to the decision-making part."
Thank him for me, Daramulath said. He was eavesdropping on E'rik's conversation again. He liked to do that, when E'rik permitted it. Sometimes his human managed to exclude him from the majority of his thoughts and keep him from sharing in his activities. Daramulath hated when E'rik did that, though he knew his human had been making an effort not to recently.
"Daramulath asks me to thank you. He's very conscientious that way. I sometimes think if he didn't have me holding him back, he'd do much better." He was joking, but Daramulath protested anyway. Most of the time the brown was a very earnest creature and took everything at face value, even though he knew his human said one thing and meant something else.
Cobalt was, in fact, a little dizzy from his stunt, but he had wanted to impress Gilden. He very rarely got to spend time with female firelizards. Dragons no longer impressed the little blue because he spent so much time with E'rik and Daramulath and their companions, but others of his own kind were sources of mystery to Cobalt. From his stable perch, he warbled at Gilden, seeking her approval. Or just anyone's approval, really. He liked to be told that he was good. E'rik patted him absently on his triangular head and he trilled delightedly.
E'rik listened to C'mor with his head cocked to one side. It was an indicator that while he was listening he was also thinking, putting pieces together. He was also making an effort not to look concerned. Firyal's personality tended to be dark, and she was probably off with her firelizards somewhere, dealing with the Hatching in her own way. He tried not to think of the stupid things she might have done if the dark moods that sometimes came over her got too dark. Her injuries would mean that she'd have access to fellis juice or numbweed, and unhappy people sometimes did stupid things.
Firyal isn't stupid, Daramulath said firmly. Don't think those things.
E'rik smiled lazily to put both Dara and C'mor at ease. "I'm sure she's fine. I was just looking for her recently and realized I hadn't seen her in a while. Since the Hatching, like you, actually. I'd meant to see how she was after Rinfala's Arioth used her as a carpet, but other things came up."
He dismissed the matter with a shrug and took a bite of something else on his tray. There was really too much food there, he decided as he offered another nibble to Cobalt, who had already forgotten that he felt a little dizzy and ate it greedily, nearly getting E'rik's fingertips in the process. Maybe she was sulking. He'd never seen her sulk before, but he was sure she was capable of it. Adolescents excelled at sulking, after all.
"Anyway. You said F'sey's a good teacher? I admit, I'm a bit jealous. I wasn't so lucky."
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Posted: Mon Sep 21, 2009 4:15 pm
"Never been too charismatic myself," C'mor said half distractedly as he pondered the other matter at hand. "Too honest I suppose... maybe too blunt would be a better word. Saying things as they are isn't always the best way to be inspiring. I know some people respect it, but others don't so much. At least I have Naedreth to cover that side for me, he's good at charisma." And alright at planning too, when he bothered to think about it. Greater steadiness would probably come with age though, but even if it didn't he was quite capable of balancing his lifemate. Probably why Naedreth chose him, part of the reason anyway.
"I chose you because you are the best!"
Well, yes, thank you Naedreth for that. Smiling faintly to himself, C'mor finished off his roll before passing a piece of meat from his stew up to Gilden; didn't seem fair to leave her out while Cobalt was getting fed. "I expect she is," he said eventually, sucking his fingers clean. "Fine that is, Firyal. it must have been a shock, getting injured like that on top of everything else that happened... Maybe the healers would know where she is? She must have gone to them to be treated, even if they don't know where she is now it might well be the freshest lead. Have you talked to her roomates?" Was he getting too nosy? He didn't mean to pry, but when there was a problem in front of him his mind insisted on trying to find a way to solve it. A good trait in a leader, he supposed, but possibly one that could get irritating for others. Maybe he'd have to find somebody as blunt as he was and ask about that.
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Posted: Mon Sep 21, 2009 5:16 pm
"Charisma can become a crutch," E'rik pointed out truthfully. "And too many people who are charismatic take it as a license to say or do whatever they please because they expect to be able to get out of trouble in the end. Rules are for lesser mortals, it's easier to ask forgiveness, and all that."
Actually, E'rik had just described himself very well. The irony amused him somewhat, though it might be less amusing if C'mor called him on it, depending on how C'mor decided to point it out. As always, good humor would be preferable to an accusatory sort of thing. E'rik chuckled. C'mor described himself as blunt and honest, in a description that was just that. E'rik mustn' hold his personality against him, when he usually appreciated people with those traits.
"I'm sure Naedreth would disagree with you. He liked what he saw in you, after all, and we mustn't doubt the wisdom of dragons." Only a little bit of teasing, more directed at Dara than C'mor. Dara liked to point out that he had been born wise, to know from the moment of his birth that E'rik was his and needed him.
I'm sure he would have chosen you if I hadn't gotten you first, Daramulath said, bringing a full smile to E'rik's face. It was impossible not to be charmed by that sort of devotion.
Let's not raise the point. Feelings might be hurt, E'rik replied, tweaking Cobalt's tail when the blue began to thwap him gently with it on his throat.
He didn't really want to think about all the mishaps that could have befallen Firyal, of her own making or otherwise, and so he answered C'mor in a way that could be described as less than truthful. He just didn't want C'mor to worry about it. Now that he thought about it, he remembered Firyal saying early in their acquaintance that she felt guilty getting everyone in trouble for the incident on the beach that had all the Candidates cleaning privies. C'mor was included in "everyone," E'rik was pretty certain.
"I'll ask the healers the next time I get enough free time to wander to the infirmary, though I'll probably run into her before that. And I actually haven't seen her roommate in some time, though she'd probably be the best source of information. I can ask her if she doesn't turn up in a few days. Those are good suggestions. Thank you."
The fact of the matter was, he'd already spoken to the staff at the infirmary, and Firyal had only gone in for a required examination after the Hatching, and she had not been too keen on being there. She hadn't returned for her scheduled check-up. Her roommate really had been scarce, though. Perhaps he'd have more luck finding her.
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Posted: Tue Sep 22, 2009 5:00 am
C'mor nodded and handed another piece of meat up to Gilden. She'd probably be too heavy to fly by the time he was finished here but nevermind. "Sounds like a plan," he agreed with a nod, "do let me know if there's anything I can do to help though... I'm sort of getting into the business of helping people. You might have heard rumors that there's a group deliberately spoiling things in the Weyr? You'll probably have noticed the effects at least... anyway, I've started trying to work against them I suppose. It involves me doing a lot more chores than I normally would but... but I got tired of standing by and just letting it happen," he said with a slight shrug, unable to give any explanation other than that.
"I don't want you to feel like I'm recruiting or anything... but... well if you're ever at a loose end even a small gesture could help somebody out a lot. Oh, and if you see anyone behaving suspiciously, watch them if you have the time and... and I really am recruiting, aren't I?" C'mor sighed slightly and shook his head. "You're right, too much charisma can get you into trouble, but a little bit more might help me out here. Forget I spoke, you've already said how they're running you ragged with drills and so on."
It would be good to get the support of an adult rider though... was it selfish to try to persuade people to join his little cause? Not in the conventional sense perhaps, but it was probably stupid. It was all very well for him to waste his own time and energy on trying to fight the incoming tide by building walls of sand but asking others to join in with the effort was unkind at the very least. Life was hard for everyone, asking more of people was a bit harsh... but if they could do just a little more, maybe somebody else would do something for them. Somehow the more he thought about what he was trying to do the more disheartening it became. Walls of sand, that was all he was building. They might stand while he watched them and worked on them, but turn his back and they would have been washed away without a trace. Such a flowery simile wasn't like him, C'mor realized abruptly as the image of sand walls vanished from his mind, where had it come from?
"Me, I was thinking about seeing the forts children build on the beach wash away," Naedreth said into his mind, "but I do not agree Mine. What we are doing is right. Something good will come of it."
He hoped the young bronze was right, he really really did.
"Believe in me Mine, and believe in you!" Naedreth continued with the deepest rumble his young voice could manage. "It may be small but I was small when I hatched, and I am growing."
Despite the fact that logic still dictated his efforts were going nowhere C'mor smiled a little and began to feel hopeful about the whole thing again. It might not be much over all, but to somebody it might be a great deal. Maybe enough to inspire them to join the effort and help others, who might feel inspired and join to help others... Naedreth was right, all the greatest things started small.
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Posted: Tue Sep 22, 2009 7:18 am
"Thank you, C'mor." E'rik's gut twisted just a bit as he thanked C'mor. The Bronzerider truly was a good person. That much was obvious in his efforts to counteract the acts of sabotage E'rik had been trying not to notice, and his willingness to help E'rik with Firyal, even though E'rik was pretty sure he didn't like Firyal that much. E'rik wished he hadn't lied to him, but it had been expedient, and it wouldn't hurt anyone.
This is your fault, E'rik accused Daramulath. I didn't used to feel guilty about these sorts of things.
Welcome to life with conscience incarnate, Daramulath replied. Aren't you used to it by now?
Sure. But you didn't say anything. I felt guilty all on my own. You're giving me a conscience you foul creature. I never wanted one of those.
Externally, he reacted to C'mor's proselytizing. He was feeling sufficiently guilty that he actually listened rather than automatically tuning out anything the Weyrling said once he realized that there was a cause involved. It was easy to see that C'mor raised a good point, and though E'rik disapproved completely of the saboteurs' actions, he had not considered taking the next step and acting to undo their damage.
"It's fine," E'rik said, speaking around half a mouthful of food. "It's a noble goal, and if I don't have to sign any pacts in blood or something I've got no objections do doing some random good acts."
He ran one hand through his hair. It was true that he was being run ragged with drilling, but he could still go a little out of his way to help others. Maybe he wouldn't take it to C'mor's extreme of acquiring extra work, but perhaps something smaller. Maybe he'd make more of an effort to be less critical of those in his Wing. His temper got nasty at the end of the day, and he lost patience with people who made the same mistakes, just as the person conducting the drills did, and he could be a lot more cutting in his remarks.
"Which may extend to biting my tongue when I'm about to cut someone's ego to shreds when they deserve it." He grinned self-deprecatingly. "You know, I'm sorry we didn't really talk much beyond my first day here. I feel like I missed out on knowing someone really worthwhile for the last turn or so."
You're being very nice, Daramulath commented.
So? You want me to completely alienate him? I probably still could if I put my mind to it.
Please don't.
Fine, E'rik replied. But only because you asked me not to.
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Posted: Tue Sep 22, 2009 8:00 am
C'mor shook his head slightly and smiled. "Well, we're both to blame, I didn't exactly make the effort either. I'll be honest, I was jealous when you Impressed; it seemed back then everyone but me was getting to hatchings and finding their lifemate.. Anyway," he gave a lopsided grin and shrugged, "that's all in the past now. I'd like to get to know you better, and probably pester you for information about what I can expect in the upcoming lessons. I know what the schedule is more or less, but hearing a bit about it from somebody's who's been through it all not long ago would be... Well, like the difference between reading about formations and flying them I suppose."
"Yes, this one and Daramulath know a lot more than we," Naedreth agreed. "We are... going to be great. We are great, for our age but there are things to learn. You are right Mine. Sometimes I rush ahead without thinking, I know, I can be over bold. Before I can go my own way, I need to know the way others have gone."
"You know, I think that might be the most sensible thing you've ever said," C'mor responded with a soft chuckle. "I'm sure they'll be willing to help us." He knew he would in their position, and it wasn't too much effort to offer a bit of advice, not too presumptuous to ask. "Thanks," he added with a nod, "for the offeer of help I mean. Like I say, every little bit could count a great deal to somebody having an awful day."
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Posted: Tue Sep 22, 2009 8:26 am
"My..." Well, it wasn't really a pleasure, per se, but now that he'd started the sentence, he couldn't very well say something else. He was expected to finish, "pleasure. Anything I can share with you to make lessons go more smoothly, I'm glad to."
Because you like to know more than others, Dara chided. He was getting his strength back from the lesson, evidently, if he was willing to participate more fully in this conversation. When E'rik left him the brown had been in a state that made the ex-Harper wonder if he'd make it to the weyr unaided.
I won't know more once I share the knowledge, E'rik retorted, effectively winning the round. No surprise there. He loved Dara, but he always won their arguments, when Dara was in a mood to be argumentative, that is. Lately the brown had been cranky with weariness, just as E'rik was. But you're right. I like teaching because there's an element of "I know something you don't know."
"You know how effective any effort on your part would have been, now that you have Naedreth. I was killing myself trying to juggle Dara, lessons, and still practice Harpering. And poor Dara nearly made himself ill trying to keep my hours." E'rik really wouldn't have welcomed the distraction. He'd ignored pretty much everyone while Dara was still small enough to follow him around like a large, clumsy shadow, even M'al, who had been his best friend at Harper Hall. It wasn't something he was particularly proud of.
He really wasn't a very good friend, come to think of it. He had ignored M'al, made things indescribably awkward with Kallista, and misplaced Firyal. Maybe he shouldn't be making friendly overtures. Maybe he should just throw himself into training and practicing his musicianship and try to become the perfect Dragonrider who is oddly musical.
You keep telling me that I am the best and most important thing in your life. I think that means you're allowed to become distracted with me every so often. You're just tired and grouchy. After dinner we can sleep.
After dinner you can sleep while I oil your hide. Your straps are rubbing bits of you off, E'rik replied.
"How long will it be until you're allowed to fly?" E'rik asked. He hadn't really been keeping track of that sort of thing.
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Posted: Tue Sep 22, 2009 10:34 am
C'mor made an indistinct noise as he gulped down another mouthful before saying; "Not long. Next month we're scheduled for the start of unmanned glides. Naedreth and I can't wait, but what I'm really looking forward to is actually getting to fly with him; must be pretty amazing." Nothing in life could ever compare to the feeling of Impression but the first flight together, the first time Naedreth caught a female, when they achieved some sort of rank - if, important to remember that it was an if - those would all be amazing. He had to admit though that he looked on mating flights with some trepidation. His habit of hanging around in the records so much, and making friends far older than he was, hadn't exactly lent itself to experience with girls. He'd never even kissed a girl, and that was a little bit sad.
"Don't forget Mine, if I catch a green her rider might be male!"
Oh, and there was that too... Actually somehow that was a lot less intimidating. He wasn't interested in men, so it didn't matter if Naedreth caught a green with a male rider. That was... pretty odd logic. Was he scared of girls? No, he had as many female friends as he had male friends... but that was probably the point. Female friends. He needed to... to... meet someone? The Weyr was full of girls of around his age, he could find somebody he liked, and who liked him too, surely. Surely. Mmmh. Somehow that seemed a far more insurmountable task than, say, becoming a wingleader within a few turns.
Oh, and he'd drifted off into thought with his spoon half way to his mouth. Grinning ruefully at E'rik, he lowered it. "Sorry, I was miles away there. Thanks, again, for the offer. I don't think I'll be pestering you day and night, but it's nice to know I've got someone to go to if I do need to know something." With so many other things creeping up that he would have to deal with by himself, knowing that this at least he didn't have to handle utterly alone was good.
"You are not alone, you have me Mine, you are never alone!"
"Thanks Naedreth, and I know, but are you going to give me advice about women, eh?"
"Err... Keep your hide oiled and fly well!"
"Thanks."
"Tell her how sleek she looks maybe?"
"Right. Well compliments work if they're true... but first I need to find a girl I like."
At that, Naedreth snorted. "Why make it so difficult? There are lots of girls, just choose one and pursue her. That is how we do it, and I'll be good at it one day!"
Well... Yes but no. It didn't work like that for humans. Well it could. In Weyrs it often did. But he didn't want it to. He wanted... a relationship, he supposed. It didn't have to be True Love, but he wanted mutual respect, intelligence in the girl in question, attraction, similar morals and so on. He wasn't sure he'd be much good at one night events as it were. Egh. At least Naedreth was still young enough that he had an excuse not to worry about that much yet. Concentrate on what was going on right now, try not to worry too much about the future. Right. he could do that.
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Posted: Tue Sep 22, 2009 12:02 pm
"So soon." E'rik felt very old briefly. "Of course, it must seem ages away from your perspective, but it's worth the wait. If you can. Wait, that is. Lots of people can't. They encourage their dragons to fly early, and their dragons try it, to please them."
I hope you aren't about to warn him off it, Daramulath said. We were flying early, after all.
E'rik grinned. He'd had his fill of food, but conversation with C'mor was satisfying another, different need that had not been met recently. In addition to neglecting his personal care and practicing his music, E'rik had not had many opportunities for human interaction outside of the Wing. Speaking to C'mor was a distinct pleasure, even if he wasn't quite the wit M'al was. E'rik wasn't up to that sort of repartee anyway, though he supposed he should really find time to congratulate M'al on his Impression. Somehow.
"Dara reminds me that I'm one such rider, who bent the rules a bit. I don't know how you're supposed to take that, but my part's done. Message relayed. But, yeah. Flying's about as good as sex. In a different way, obviously." E'rik shrugged. He'd been having sex for years, and was completely comfortable discussing it. "And it's fine to tune me out whenever. I talk constantly. I can't expect people to pay attention every second."
Cobalt crept down E'rik's arm toward the food. He had absolutely sense and no self-restraint. He would eat as long as there was food. It continually amazed E'rik that the blue firelizard wasn't the size of a wher. E'rik scooped him up and deposited him back on his shoulder, murmuring, "Enough, lard bottom."
"Maybe you could give me some tips on training firelizards. Firyal was helping me with Cobalt, but we've already covered that territory."
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